The definitive showpiece of rustic 1970 acoustic Grateful Dead. From the moment you hit play, you're immersed in dusty tape hiss, intoxicating strumming, silky cymbals, and country-tinged vocal harmonization. Phil lends a pinch of carefully restrained bass, which is just enough to give the show more mass than you'll find in some of the acoustic sets from earlier in '70 that featured just Jerry and Bob.

I think the drummer here is Mickey. His style is a little more "diagonal" than Kreutzmann's, and unless the song calls for it he's not as heavy on the snare, not to mention his status as a New Rider and his presumed presence at the kit for similar California acoustic shows, 4/18/70 and 7/30/70. Speaking of New Riders, an earlier reviewer gives us attendee confirmation that the mandolinist here is David Nelson, who played this kind of music with Garcia in the early 60's, giving the show even more of that reminiscent old-timey feel.

I love the religious numbers, folk covers, and Workingman's/American Beauty-era material. It's tough to cherry-pick highlights here since the whole show is just gorgeous, but I think the Ballad of Casey Jones truly demonstrates the greatness that they were capable of with a couple of acoustics. Some of Garcia's verses are warm, legendary, and sentimental, others ice-cold, grim, and haunting, all accompanied by twisting guitars and fantastic backwoods instrumentation that would have the very ghosts of the genre's inventors tipping their hats.

Such a good show great set list

I love this all-acoustic show. Just wish the vocals were louder. I guess it's a reminder of the old adage - sound engineers mix for the room, not the tape. Hopefully one day an AUD shows up (okay, maybe it has, but I haven't checked - mea culpa, mea maxima culpa (beats breast)).

Though I do not doubt that Nelson would be playing mandolin, since he was there with them, Dick Latvala's personal notes from this show state that Jerry was actually playing mandolin?!?!?!? I'm not sure I could believe that. I mean if Nelson was there what else would he be playing???

A gem. Take this one camping.

Beautiful stuff - that El Paso is indeed lovely - probably the ideal way to play this old cantina ballad - with a mandolin!

Only caveat here is the vocals - they're often just miked/mixed too low. Too bad, because this is a jewel. Still definitely worth hearing.

I too love the acoustic and only wished that Jerry and the boys liked it as much. I don't think Jerry's concept of expansion beyond limits applied to the acoustic guitar as much as it did to the electric guitar. But they were an amazing acoustic band as well.

I wish the vocals came through a little louder, but a beautiful performance.

Despite the sound, this is a true treasure and a performance not to missed.

A stunningly beautiful acoustic set...they sure don't build'em like this anymore! I'd rather hear this than the Reckoning album any day of the week... Is this the only Tell It To Me?!

I love the Mama tried! So Sick! How could you not like this!

I don't know who was on the mandolin on this great show, but they do a tremendous job. I love the acoustic dead, and their early acoustic Candyman's are my favorite versions of the song. And what a real treat this show is, playing old gospels, I really enjoy it and wish they'd of played them more often. I'm sure Jerry loved going back to these songs. Fire stars for this great gem.

A golden nugget from a brief but very special period! The sound on this file is far from perfect, but this is very special nonetheless! Its tragic that no more of these exclusively acoustic shows exist. (99 pts)

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Acoustic GRATEFUL DEAD from the summer of 70'.

Doesn't sound like Mickey is playing, thank GOD.

This version is a little hissier than the other version, but it doesn't have the lame ass drum track in the right channel, which always sounded like some moron tried mix their playing along with the DEAD but didn't know how to play the drums. Which raises the question can you keep time on LSD?

Why does anyone need two drummers for acoustic GOSPEL music anyway?

Amazing sound from such a primitive time for "live recordings".

Here the GRATEFUL DEAD demonstrate their love for CHRISTIAN GOSPEL Music.

It probably would have offened most fans of the GRATEFUL DEAD if they released a GOSPEL album of their favorite CHRISTIAN GOSPEL TUNES...this live show is as close as we are going to get. Too bad many of the fans of the GRATEFUL DEAD despise Christianity. You'd think they'd have more sense.

Nothing like a bunch of sinners singing Gospel.

How often did Jerome sing and play the "Ballad of Casey Jones"?

I recommend using your EQ during playback of most of the shows on the IA, this one included.

Windows Media Player has a 10 band EQ and SRS WOW effects that enhance the sound.

Here's one way to stream/download this show:

The IA recommends users of Windows XP view this web-page with RealPlayer.

RealPlayer is a free media player you can download at www.realplayer.com.

Using RealPlayer to view this webpage, click the VBR M3U link to open the songs in the Playlist.

If your Playlist is not open, open it by clicking the Playlist icon at the lower right hand corner of RealPlayer.

Once the songs are in the Playlist, double click the song to play it, then click the record button at the lower left hand corner of Realplayer to record it.

When the red line reaches the other end click the stop button to download the song. Your song is in the RealPlayer Downloads folder.

Repeat these steps for each song.

Or you could just record the audio to your computer, or to your cassette deck, or 8 track, or VHS, or DVD recorder by simply hooking up the audio cables...morons.

Thanks for the FREE MUSIC from 39 years ago, 1970

PS: when morons say "the best thing to come out of Christianity is the music" you know they never read the Gospel..or bothered to look into what Jesus said and did...

The Grateful Dead & Jerry Garcia in particular have always interlaced Christian songs into their acoustic & electric sets. In fact scripture is one of the themes that Hunter touches upon most frequently. The best thing that ever came out of Christianity is the music. I dont think this fact was lost to any of these guys playing this music. This Born Again Pagan is not offended at all. I enjoyed this thoroughly

Historically ,i appreciate the show,but the mix,as stated b4,is way outta wack.It sounds like the boys are the backing band at a mandolin festival,and i think Kreutzman is just too jazzed out and looking for something to do besides just kep the steady 4/4 beat.He seems repressed ,imo.Some gentle,mellow renditions here,but the mando/drums ruin it 4 me.

Holy sheets on the line!

How does a show like this evade listening until tonight...4/28-9/2007!

God works in mysterious ways..
God bless the greatful dead.

Born 6 months before this night...
this one's an incredible recording of timeless magic

Lyrics: http://www3.clearlight.com/~acsa/introjs.htm?/~acsa/songfile/TELLITTO.HTM

great recording, lots of rare gems, and a mandolin! who cares if it is Jerry or David Nelson - it sounds excellent. Sound is a bit hissy, but it's an acoustic show for cryin' out loud - the sound isn't going to be perfect. Enjoy a gorgeous El Paso, a stunning Rosalie McFall, a rousing Cocaine blues, and a laid back Deep Elem!

This might be an excellent acoustic set, but the muddy mix and the high levels of hiss kinda detract from the listening experience. Vocals are hardly audible on some tracks. A cleaned-up, remixed sbd for this show would be a must-have, but this lineage is mainly for acoustic enthusiasts and fans of the mandolin (which is mixed too high, IMHO). This arrangement of El Paso is very cool, and worth the download. Note that Bobby had not yet figured out what the real lyrics are at the end of the song! UPDATE: OK, revising my rating up to 4 stars. This sounds much better if you boost the mid-range on the equalizer. Also, try shifting the balance to about 2/3 left channel to bring out the vocals and bring the mandolin (right channel) more in line with the other instruments.

Can someone clean this up a bit and re-post?

It says in Dick's notes that "Jerry plays mandolin real fine" but I think Jerry's on his guitar the whole set. Either way, some fine ol custic dead here.

Another doozy - Thanks LMA

Do yourself a favor and read the notes a kind brother passed on below - very cool.

http://www.dicklatvala.com/notebooks/pages/700805notes.jpg

To Kola,
I was at this show and that is David Nelson playing the mandolin; he was fantastic! It WAS an AWESOME show, too. In later years, I really missed the accoustic shows of the early '70s. I'm just glad that we always had the 'Jerry Band' to hear in between Dead tours/shows.
Aiko-Aiko

Excellent tape for a more blue-grass sounding acoustic 70's dead. I have always thought the mandolin player was "Dawg". Dick's notes appear to be from listening to the tape and not actually seeing the show. Maybe someone should ask?

I'm virtually certain that's Jerry not David Nelson on mandolin. I've listened to a lot of acoustic dead sets from this year and I'd rate this as one of the best if not THE best, admittedly the recording quality could be a little better

If you are a real Deadhead, you must get this. End of story. Read Dick Latvala's own notes on the show/recording here: http://www.dicklatvala.com/notebooks/pages/700805notes.jpg

sorry.....i just think this recording is poor....just recorded to low .......damn...jerry on lay me down is so sick!!!!!! 4 for performance only

If you like acoustic sets that GD did in 1970, this is EASILY one you should pick up if you haven't done so! The mix is a wee bit off, but the sound is of excellent quality. David Nelson on mandolin is beautiful bonus. He can be heard very well in the mix.. almost too well. ;)
The show is delivered with a laid back feel, almost like one can experience at a religion event. The crowd sounds very small, so must have been quite a treat for those lucky ones who were there.
Big note is there is a few songs that are ONLY HERE or very few other versions (Drink Up And Go Home, A Voice From On High, Ballad Of Casey Jones, etc.) making a GD collector drool.
All in all, if you seek rocking GD, this is not the show for you. But, if you want to relax and put another log on the fire, it doesn't get any finer.
Hats off to the legendary Jjoops for finding and preversing this rare for all of us to enjoy!

Very nice stuff, good quality, get this one, I wish I had it in my tape collection, feel fortunate to have it now!!

Yowza--this has some major league rarities, plus David Nelson on mandolin. Check it out.